Western World Widows bring hope to Worldwide Widows with Kiva

You want to know one of my addictions? 

It's sponsoring third world widows with Kiva micro-loans. 

See what I mean.

From Mexico, El Salvador, Tajikistan, Ukraine, Nicaragua and the latest, Kenya. I started out small with a couple of $25 loans and then one of the ladies would pay me back...penny by penny until, I received the whole $25 back. 

What to do? 

Kiva allows you to receive it back, donate to Kiva or donate to another deserving woman! Of course, I roll it over and keep going. 

Recently, I had a beautiful Kenyan widow contact me through the Modern Widows Club Facebook Page asking to start an alliance, a new chapter in Kenya. We plan on featuring them when our new online MWC magazine launches next month, but for now, you can see their sneek peek photo here. 

The woman in the red shiny shirt is Roseline Orwa. We found out we have very much in common half way around the world. She is widowed, an advocate in her hometown welcoming other younger & older widows into her home, she's an interior decorator who loves planning events that benefit others. Isn't it amazing how God works out the details to be sure you know he is present. 

I'm not sure what is in store for our future but I can say this, I'm willing to make it happen on my end if anyone else is with me!! Let's be what the Dalai Lama said at the 2009 Vancouver Peace Summit- 'Western world women will save the world'. 

Personally, I think he meant western world widows will save the world.... but I'll take that up with him someday when we meet :) 

Will you please consider reaching out to a widow somewhere in the world at Kiva or on your own. 

Click here to follow my lead: http://www.kiva.org/invitedby/carolyn9237

Thank you for paying it forward, Carolyn Moor

Founder Modern Widows Club where

western world widows are bringing hope to worldwide widows. 

7 Great Ideas for any Valentine's Day Widow

Let's face it...you have no idea what to get that woman, that widow in your life. Whether she is your sweetie, neighbor, friend or stranger, finding something kind, precious, useable and loving can be a challenge. To make it even easier, I'm going to list the most time consuming to the least time consuming so you can fit this into your life. Just do it. 

1- Smilebox Video 

'Turn Little Moments into Big Smiles" is their slogan. It may take several hours, loss of some hair and add a few wrinkles to create only 2 minutes of enjoyment , but it will last forever certain to make her smile!

If you have access to photos, you can create a fun, easy customized video to email or post on their FB as a surprise. Really easy to do. You can grab photos from Facebook or any collection. They have the fun stuff....music, layouts etc. Addicting. I create two every year for my daughters. This gift is so valuable I can't put a price on it. 

To PLAY click here:

2- Kid Sitting!

Mama needs a break, do I need to say more? Do it for a few hours or a weekend so she can go on a girls trip. Heck, for that matter, present them with a ticket to fly off or cruise away. But, ensure her that their children will be FINE!! That's the golden ticket. This gift is so valuable I can't put a price on it.

3- Lawn Service or Handyman Weekend! 

My first year being widowed, I had two men step up and become my official 'Lawn Guy' and 'Handyman' and to this day, I am sooooo grateful. (Shirt optional) This gift is so valuable I can't put a price on it. 

4- Crowd Share- Introduce a new activity!

With Living Social, Groupon, DealMap, you can virtually introduce something new, for a reduced price and engage back into the big world out there like never before. Don't let your pocketbook or lack of knowledge stifle your creativity. 

DealMap is interesting because Google totally customizes it for where you work, live or hangout. They will send you deals near you. You'll be surprised how little you know about the town you live in...so many great businesses and activities. 

Example 1: Sports- My daughter is into CREW, but I really don't understand the sport. I bought a rowing lesson for me and my friend to try together. $40 bucks later, it was a great time together full of laughs, exercise, living and empowerment. 

Example 2: Design Consult- My friend's home was 'stuck in a moment', she needed a little design advice to bring some life and sunshine into her home. I recommended buying a $60 design consult deal on Living Social. So she gifted it to her friend. 

Example 3- Oil Changes- a MWC'er collects money to give out oil changes to other widows. 

Widows rarely spend money on themselves, find something like a massage or nail salon. Think about what she'd love to experience. This gift is so valuable I can't put a price on it.

5- Eat out tonight on me! 

You can never go wrong with restaurant cards. Just make sure it's a restaurant you know she will like and really look forward to. Check out Restaurant.com for discounts to her favorite place so she can take the whole family and get a bigger bang for your buck. 

The brownie point here 'she doesn't have to cook or clean up'!!!

This gift is so valuable I can't put a price on it. 

6- Think about mentoring her kids!

This is wide open- what are you good at? Teach that to her children. 

This gift is so valuable I can't put a price on it. 

7- Honor the person they lost!

-Write them a letter sharing special memorable moments that only you can share. 

This gift is so valuable I can't put a price on it.

-Become an organ donor.  

This gift is so valuable I can't put a price on it.

-Support another widow in a third-world country with Kiva Loans. 

This gift is so valuable I can't put a price on it.

Any gift you can't put a price on will work.

Happy Valentine's Day. 

Feel free to share your own ideas and comments to this blog. 

Idea Lady,

Carolyn Moor

Founder of Modern Widows Club

Kiva Widows

A few years ago, I learned about Kiva Micro-loans. Have you heard of them? If not, check it out, but here’s my story and why I support them.
Being widowed at age 36, I thought being educated, resourceful and creative would ensure that I’d always find a way to be financially sound. But to be honest, when you are grieving deeply and hurting emotionally, money is the last thing you are focused on. Eventually though, you must face that monster. I’m going out on a limb and telling you a little secret: I didn’t know how to reconcile my check book when my husband died. I know, I know….bad huh! I mean, I always had money in there and didn’t overspend, I just didn’t care to learn. It was boring.
But as time went on, I became a Dave Ramsey, Suze Orman, Warren Buffett and Chicks Laying Nest Eggs fan. I actually became comfortable with understanding how money could make money for me and secure a great future for my daughters. I also learned that money is meant for 3 things: to save, to donate and to spend.

Spending was easy. Saving was hard. Donating made me curious. What do I donate to? Sure, there’s New Hope for Kids, the grief center that I took my daughter to and then there was my tithe. But I began to wonder what else was out there that needed my money. I just felt something was calling my name but I didn’t know what. I didn’t have a lot to donate so I wanted to be very wise with where to sent it. Then I found Kiva Loans. I saw Jessica Jackley at the Global Leadership Summit via simulcast from Willow Creek Church in Illinois. Jessica had founded Kiva; small tiny micro loans to help third world citizens who just needed a hand UP, not hand OUT.

Looking over the website, it became very clear that I wanted to help specifically other widows in places like Kenya, Tajikistan, El Salvador, Nicaragua and Ukraine.  As I looked at their photos and dreams of wanting a grocery store or  construction supplies, I knew I’d never really know these women or see the joy on their faces. I’d never hug them and say ‘You’re gonna be fine’. All I could really do is give them a micro  loan and watch as they paid me back literally penny by penny. Kiva does an  extraordinary job of communicating the process. I receive consistent emails and knew when a nickel was being repaid. Sometimes it took weeks, sometimes months…it’s beautiful.

I imagine her counting in her hand the cents she made that day knowing that someone out in the wild blue yonder loaned her this opportunity to shine, gave her the dignity of this moment, to make a living for her family or to eat that day. Call me sentimental, but this is what ‘living well’ feels like for me. Single moms and widows are vulnerable in the world, they feel alone, but they shouldn’t have to feel desperate or useless. If I am remembered for one thing in this world, I want to be remembered for helping women who have little to no opportunity and still find the strength to keep going another day. I KNOW how that feels. I happily choose to help these women because I feel a kindred spirit that spans across oceans and around the globe and I know it’s felt long after I’m paid back.
This is why I want to make money, so I can deeply appreciate what I have, see it as the blessing it is and spin dreams for someone who will never know that another widow in the USA is rallying for her and shouting from the mountaintops that……

“You’re gonna be just fine”  Will you consider sponsoring a widow…in our country or beyond? – Carolyn

Carolyn highly recommends these awesome women who are experts with Women in Transition: (Central FL)

Rebecca Sargent/ Edward Jones,  Dianne Webb/ Stonebridge Financial Planning Group, Cindy Price/ Price Financial Services